Method and apparatus for changing the orientation of containers which advance in a row



July 27, 1965 J. B. VAN DER WINDEN 3,197,013

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CHANGING THE ORIENTATION OF CONTAINERS WHICH ADVANCE IN A ROW Filed Jan. 30, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 27, 1965 J. B. VAN DER WINDEN 3,

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CHANGING THE ORIENTATION OF CONTAINERS WHICH ADVANCE IN A ROW Filed Jan. 50, 1963 s Sheets-Sheet 2 July 27, 1965 J. B. VAN DER WINDEN 3,197,013

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CHANGING THE ORIENTATION 0F CONTAINERS WHICH ADVANCE IN A ROW Filed Jan. 30, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States; Patent 3,197,013 METHOD AND APPARATUS Z QR CHANGE 1 THE GREENTATZSN CQNTAH JERS WHICH Al)- VAN EN A 339W 3 van der Winders, Amstelveen, Netherlands, assignor to Gebr. Storlr 6; Cos Apparatenfahrielr N.V., a limited-liability company, Amsterdam, Nethe'dands Filed L an. 3d, 1963, Ser. No. 255,739 Claims priority, application Netherlands, .Fan 31, W62,

274,188 16 Qlaims. (Cl. Hit-4d) The invention relates to apparatus and methods for changing the positions of containers which are advancing in a row. Frequently, containers are advanced upright in rows and must be laid on their sides one behind the other. Alternately the reverse situation prevails.

Heretotore in order to achieve the transformation of the positions of the containers, it has been customary to tilt the containers such that they are displaced from one conveyor belt to another. There is also often used a specially shaped chute, having a bend, in which the transformation of the position of the containers is effected. Although these methods produce good results, they can only be applied in operations involving limited capacity. The maximum speed which can be obtained with the known devices is 250 to 330 containers per minute.

in connection with the steadily increasing capacity of the modern installations for treatment, as for instance sterilizers and the like, there is a need to transform the relative position of a series of containers advancing at a rate of even 1060 to 1280 containers per minute. In this respect the heretofore known devices are lacking in efiiciency.

It is an object of the invention to provide means for transforming the position of containers in a row which is of very great capacity whereby the abovementioned requirements can be easily satisfied. This object is realized according to the invention in that the containers are advanced in a substantially horizontal path and are successively subjected to an acceleration force perpendicular to the original direction of advance, while maintaining the horizontal velocity of the containers until the relative distance covered in a transverse direction between two successive containers is at least equal to the size as measured in this direction of the containers, after which the horizontal component of velocity is eliminated. Due to this feature it isat least theoreticallypossible to achieve any desired capacity, since it is only necessary to adapt the distance covered in the horizontal direction during the movement in a transverse direction of the containers, to the feed velocity. V a The method according to the invention is or" particular importance in a fully mechanized plant, in which the containers after having been filled and sealed must be sterilized. To that end the advance of the containers in an upright position must be transformed into an advance in which the containers are on their sides since this is the position of the containers in the carriers of the sterilizer. The invention contemplates a method for achieving this purpose.

The invention further contemplates a method for changing the relative position of a series of cylindrical containers from a position in which the containers are on their sides in end to end relation to a side by side relation by using a magnetic force, which ensures that at the moment at which the acceleration force becomes effective in a transverse direction there is no change of the absolute position ofrthe containers. This magnetic force does, however, not prevent the cylindrical containers from rolling away in transverse direction.

3,19'Ldl3 Patented .luly 27, 1965 It is a further object of the invention to provide means for releasing the containers for movement in a transverse direction in fixed attitude such that no turning or tilting movement is produced, which might otherwise cause a failure during the advance in transverse direction due to which the containers would no longer successively advance one behind the other.

A further object of the invention consists in providing means for maintaining the feeding velocity of the containers along a line of symmetry through the centre of gravity of the containers, until the containers are released from the original path and are free for movement in a transverse direction.

A still further object of the invention is to produce means for gradually dissipating the kinetic energy of the containers in the original direction of advancement without giving rise to shock or impact.

The invention will be further described with reference to the drawing in which a number of embodiments of the device according tov the invention are represented.

FIG. lshows a plan view of a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation withpartially removed portions of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

FEGURES 3 and 4 are perspective views of a detail of the device according to the invention for changing the relative position of a series of advancing containers, for feeding them to and removing them from a sterilizer, respectivel".

FTGURE 5 is a perspective view of a device for changing the relative position of a series of advancing cylindrical containers.

FIGURE 6 is a cross sectional View taken along the line VIVI in FIGURE 5. v

The device is constituted by a feed track 1, consisting of a horizontally extending endless belt 2, on which are supported the containers 3 to be treated. Provided on both ends of the feed path are pulleys 4 for the belt 2. Means 5 wlL'ch adjoin the feed track 1 are provided for releasing the containers in a perpendicular or transverse direction'without turning or tilting. The means 5 comprises according t-o thej embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 a friction roller s constituted by a plurality of discs 7 of elastic material such as rubber. The means 5 is further constitutedby a curved guide-8, which is concentric with the friction roller 6. The arrangement is such that the roller 6 on the one side and the guide 8 on the other side tangentially adjoin the feed track, the spacing between the roller 6 and the guide 8 corresponding to the diameter of the containers 3. Means are provided for driving the roller 6, the said means imparting a circumferential speed to the discs 7 which is at least equal to twice the speed of advancement of the containers 3 on the feed track I.

Directly disposed before the point at which the roller 6 tangentially adjoins the feed track 1 is a metering device shaped as a rotatable cross 9, which can pass'through slits in the guide 8 and which by way of a free wheel coupling 10 is connected'with a shaft 1-1. The latter shaft rotates at a particular velocity so that a prescribed maximum number of containers can pass the cross in a unit of time. Also minor fluctuations in the feeding speed of the containers can be adjusted. The metering device can be utilized in order to let the containers pass at a particular rate which is equal to the number of containers which periodically can be simultaneously inserted in a carrier of the device where they receive treatment.

.-Means 12 is provided for eliminating the horizontal component of movement of the containers 3, the said means 12 adjoining the means 5 for releasing the con tainers in a transverse direction. The means 12 isconstituted by a spirally converging wall 13 having an end 14 which adjoins an ejection tube 15. The tube 15 has an end adjoining the end 14 of Wall 13 which is vertically directed and which is bent to thereby form a horizontally extending part 16, adjoining a conveyor belt, which feeds the containers to a sterilizer (not shown); The. curvature of the wall 13 is directed opposite to the direction of the curvatureof the guide 8. As a result the containers, as seen in plan view, rotate clockwise (which is caused by the roller 6) will generate additional friction on passing by the wall'13, which contributes to the required dissipation of energy.

The operation of the device is clearly illustrated in FIG. 2. The container 3, is. gripped between the roller 7 6 and the guide 8 when thecontainer reaches plane A (see FIGURE 1) and as a result of the rotation of the roller 6 is displaced through such an angular distance, that the bottom of the containers becomes free from the belt 2, and in particular from the portion of this belt which turns around the right hand pulley 4 (as seen in FIG. 2). The container concerned remains thus in its original position and is released from the belt 2 as it passes through plane B, represented in plan view in FIG- UR-E 1. Thereafter, the container concerned is capable of performing a free fall in a direction having a component transverse to its initial direction of movement and this'without a turning or tilting movement of the container. vTherefore, the containers are discharged from the belt 2 for free fall in thesame attitude that the containers assumed when they were supported on the belt.

The falling movement represented in FIG. 2 is continueduntil the relative distance covered between two successive containers. is equal to the height of the containers. This moment which in FIGURE 1 is indicated at. the plane C coincides with the moment at which the container has attained a vertical velocity, corresponding with the ejection speed which is required in order to prevent stagnation in feeding. After this moment the remaining horizontal component of velocity can be eliminated by contact with the wall 13. Thereupon the containers3 fall into the tube 15 whereby the transformation desired of the direction of movement in respect of the principal symmetry line is achieved.

' It should be noted that instead of the wall 13 a fiat plane could be utilized with which the containers make contact. In order to avoid noise the use of the wall 13 is preferred.

It should be further noted that in the event the containers are of rounded rectangular shape or are square containers (with a fiat bottom and cover) the means for releasing the containers in a direction having a transverse without a turning or tilting movement, may comprise one or more roller pairs, bounding the feed track on either side thereof. The containers are then further advanced by this pair or these pairs of rollers in their initial direction of motion until the bottom of the containers are entirely. free from the feed track.

a The above modifications are shown in the FIGURES 3 and 4. In the former there is shown the transformation required for feeding the containers 'to a sterilizer (not shown) where said containers in the free fall position are admitted to a gully shaped conveyor in order to be passed to a sterilization track. FIG. 4 shows the transformation of the direction of these containers after same have been removed from the sterilizer and are to be passed on. for exampleto a labeling or packing apparatus.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 the series of containers 3 are supplied by means of a conveyor 17. The relative position of the containers 3 in the row is such that the bottom of one container lies adjacent the cover of the preceding container and vice, versa. In this relative position the row of containers is treated in a sterilizer (not shown) and periodically a series of containers isremoved from this device and placed on the conveyor 17. During the further transportation of the containers it is necessary to stand them up next to one another in a row.

To that end there is provided a moving surface 18,

consisting of an endless conveyor or belt, which extends over two rollers 19, one of which is driven. Each point of this surface 18 moves along a substantially horizontal path, the surface being, however, incline-d in a transverse direction at an angle of 45 with respect to the horizontal. The surface 18 adjoins the conveyor 17, the velocity of both devices being substantially equal. Under the surface 18 is a magnetic device 29 having suificient power to establish a magnetic field of force on the front side of the belt 18 and hold the containers in fixed attitude when they leave the conveyor 17. There is further provided a supporting member 21 for the containers 3, this member being situated at the lower side of the series of containers 3 (see FIG. 6). This supporting device extends along the initial portion of the surface 18. Finally there is provided means 22 for eliminating the original longitudinal feeding velocity of the containers 3. These means consist of a rotatable roller 23 and a plate. 24, which together with the side walls 25 constitute an inclined ejection chute for the containers 3, which when they arrive at the roller 23 have already undergone a relative change of position with respect to the row which is being fed on the conveyor 17. The spacing of roller 23 from the plate 24 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the containers 3.

In operation the containers 3 fed by way of the conveyor 117 are during the last part of this advance laterally supported by the element 21 and the surface 18. After the containers 3 have left the conveyor 17 and are carried along at the same speed by the moving surface 18 they enter into the sphere of action of the magnet 20 The containers 3 are hereby vigorously held against the surface 18 and these containers maintain a fixed attitude and will not undergo an absolute change of position while they pass by the end of the supporting member 21. Only when a container 3 is entirely released from the sup-porting member 21 will the acceleration forcewhichis effective in transverse direction -'(i.e.the force of gravity) produce a displacement in a transverse direction. Consequently the cylindrical container rolls on the inclined surface 18. Thereby, the spacing between two successive containers 3 in the direction of the acceleration force referred to above will gradually increase. The roller 23 is positioned such that the containers 3 rolling downwardly and simultaneously being advanced in a rectilinear direction on the surface 18 come into contact with the roller when the spacing referred to above is at least equal to the diameter of the containers.

The roller 23 is covered with a material having a high coefficient of friction so that the kinetic energy of the containers in the original horizontal direction of feed is quickly dissipated without there being produced a deceleration force in the discharge direction. This unimpeded discharge is insured by driving the roller 23 at such a speed that the circumferential velocity is at least equal to the circumferential velocity of the containers 3, rolling along the inclined surface 18.

As is apparent from FIG. 6 the plate portion'24 opposite the roller 23 can be curved over a short distance so as to be concentric with the roller 23, so that the contact time between the containers 3 and the roller 23 is prolonged. The means 22 constructed in such manner for eliminating the original feeding velocity of the containers 3 contribute to the effect that the change of direct-ion in view is achieved without a tilting movement, which might interfere with a smooth run. Connected to the chute 24, 25 is a conventional channel 26, closed on all sides, which lengthwise is twisted through in order to turn the containers into an upright position and thus deliver them to a conveyor belt 27.

In this way there is achieved that a relative change of position of a series of containers 3 is obtained' at a capacity which exceeds by far the capacity attainable according to conventional methods.

It is finally observed that the provision of the rotatable cross 9 with the driving means 1%, 11 is not essential for carrying out the method according to the invention.

What we claim is:

1. A method of changing the relative orientation of .a succession of containers, said method comprising advancing the containers in a row in a particular attitude along a given path in a given direction and at a particular speed, engaging the containers at the end of the path to transfer the same in supported relation therefrom While retaining the containers in their original attitude, releasing the containers with a component of speed in the original direction thereof and with an acceleration in a direction having a component perpendicular to the original direction of travel while retaining the original attitude of the containers, allowing the containers to accelerate until successive containers are spaced apart in the direction of acceleration a distance at least equal to the extent of a container and then engaging the containers to terminate the speed thereof in the original direction and feeding the containers still in said fixed attitude along the direction of acceleration but now arranged one behind the other in the latter direction,

2. A method of changing the relative orientation of a succession of containers, said method comprising advancing the containers in a row along a given path in a particular attitude and at a particular speed, the containers tending to tilt and fall at the end of said path, applying a force to the containers at the end of said path to maintain the containers in said particular attitude after they leave said path with a component of speed in the original direction of travel and with an acceleration in a direction perpendicular to the original direction of travel, allowing the containers to accelerate until successive containers are spaced apart in the direction of acceleration a distance at least equal to the extent of a container, and only then engaging the containers to terminate the component of speed thereof in the original direction of travel, and feeding the containers in the direction of acceleration, still in said fixed attitude, one behind the other.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the containers are initially advanced along a horizontal path and are successively freely released and thereby subjected to gravitational acceleration.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the containers are initially upright, one adjacent the other in a horizontal row, and subsequently assume a position still upright in axial alignment after they are engaged and the initial component of speed of the containers has been terminated.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 comprising guidably advancing the containers, when they are in axial alignment, along a curved path in which the containers remain axially aligned and are turned approximately 90.

6. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the containers are cylindrical and are initially advanced in end to end axial alignment with the containers on their sides, the containers being held in their initial attitude when they are released from said path the containers are allowed to rotate about their respective axes under the influence of gravity.

'7. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein said force which is applied to the containers is a magnetic force which is applied to the containers to hold the same in their initial attitude while yet allowing the containers to rotate.

8. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the containers are released from said path onto an inclined horizontally advancing surface on which the containers can roll under the influence of gravity.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein said force which is applied to said containers is a magnetic force sufiicient to holdt he container againstthe inclined surface in fixed attitude while allowing the containers to roll about their respective axes along said inclined surface.

10. Apparatus for changing the relative orientation of a rowof successively advancing bodies, said apparatus comprising means for advancing the bodies along a given path at a particular speed and in a particular attitude, the latter means having an end from which the bodies would tilt and fall if freely discharged thereat, means at the end .of said path for first engaging the bodies to convey the same away from said end of the path in said particular attitude and to thereafter release the bodies still in said fixed attitude with a component of speed in the original direction of travel and with an acceleration component in a direction perpendicular to the original direction of travel of the bodies, means for receiving the bodies and for retaining the same in said original attitude and located at a distance from the last said means sufficient to allow successive bodies to become separated in the direction of acceleration a distance greater than the extent of a body whereby successive bodies will be in spaced relation in the direction of acceleration, the last said means including means for terminating the speed of the bodies in the original direction of travel for feeding the bodies one behind another in the original attitude thereof but now arranged along the direction of acceleration.

-11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the means for engaging and releasing the containers comprises a friction roller having an outer circumference which tangentially adjoins one side of the path of the containers, and a curved guide which is concentric with the friction roller and which adjoins the other side of the said path, means driving the friction roller with a circumferential speed which is at least equal to twice the speed of advancement of the containers.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said friction roller is constituted of a plurality of vertically spaced discs.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim :10 wherein the means for terminating the horizontal component of speed of the containers comprises a spirally converging wall having a lower outlet end, the apparatus further comprising a discharge tube having a vertical portion immediately below the outlet end of the spirally converging wall for receiving containers fed therefrom.

'14-. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said discharge tube is curved to guidably advance the containers and discharge the same one behind another in an attitude perpendicular to the original attitude of the containers.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim =10, comprising means at the end of the said path immediately before the means which engages and releases the containers, for regulating the rate at which the containers are delivered to the means which engages and releases the containers.

16. Apparatus for changing the relative orientation of a row of successively advancing axially aligned cylindrical containers, said apparatus comprising means for advancing the cylindrical containers along a horizontal path at a particular speed, the latter means having an end from which the containers would fall and tilt if freely discharged thereat, a transversely inclined conveyor at the end of said path driven at substantially the same speed as said containers, said conveyors being located adjacent the first said means for receiving the containers successively therefrom, magnetic means located to a side of the inclined conveyor opposite the side on which the containers are received for exerting magnetic force on the containers sufiicient to maintain the containers in the initial horizontal attitude thereof on said conveyor while allowing the containers to roll about the respective axes thereof along said inclined conveyor under the action of gravity and thereby undergo accelenation and means positioned adjacent the conveyor for receiving the containers therefrom and for retaining the same in their original horizontal attitude, the latter said means being located at a position horizontally spaced from the end of said path by a distance sutficient to allow successive containers to become separated in the direction of acceleration'a distance greater than the diameter of a container whereby successive containers will be in spaced relation in the direction of acceleration, vsaid latter means including means for terminating the horizontal component of speed of the containers and for feeding the. containers one behind an- 7 3 7 other still in horizontal attitude but now arranged one behind the other along the direction of acceleration.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 SAMUEL -F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

EDWARD A. SROKA, Examiner, 

1. A METHOD OF CHANGING THE RELATIVE ORIENTATION OF A SUCCESSION OF CONTAINERS, SAID METHOD COMPRISING ADVANCING THE CONTAINERS IN A ROW IN A PARTICULAR ATTITUDE ALONG A GIVEN PATH IN A GIVEN DIRECTION AND AT A PARTICULAR SPEED, ENGAGING THE CONTAINERS AT THE END OF THE PATH TO TRANSFER THE SAME IN SUPPORTED RELATION THEREFROM WHILE RETAINING THE CONTAINERS IN THEIR ORIGINAL ATTITUDE, RELEASING THE CONTAINERS WITH A COMPONENT OF SPEED IN THE ORIGINAL DIRECTION THEREOF AND WITH AN ACCELERATION IN A DIRECTION HAVING A COMPONENT PERPENDICULAR TO THE ORIGINAL DIRECTION OF TRAVEL WHILE RETAINING THE ORIGINAL ATTITUDE OF THE CONTAINERS, ALLOWING THE CONTAINERS TO ACCELERATE UNTIL SUCCESSIVE CONTAINERS ARE SPACED APART IN THE DIRECTION OF ACCELERATION A DISTANCE AT LEAST EQUAL TO THE EXTENT OF A CONTAINER AND THEN ENGAGING THE CONTAINERS TO TERMINATE THE SPEED THEREOF IN THE ORIGINAL DIRECTION AND FEEDING THE CONTAINERS STILL IN SAID FIXED ATTITUDE ALONG THE DIRECTION OF ACCELERATION BUT NOW ARRANGED ONE BEHIND THE OTHER IN THE LATTER DIRECTION. 